Fundraiser

A Newport Beach-based group is organizing a March 27 fundraiser to benefit victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Organizers said in a news release that they will donate 100% of the proceeds to the American Red Cross of Orange County's Japanese relief efforts from OC 4 Japan at the 8Eighty8 Night Club, 4647 MacArthur Blvd. From 7 to 11 p.m. Thrasher and DJ O.N.E. will provide live entertainment, while attendees can participate in a raffle and silent auction, the release said.

With help from an anonymous donor, a local nonprofit organization aims to bring in $200,000 in donations at an annual fundraiser, said an event official Wednesday. The Circle of Life Breakfast, the biggest fundraiser of the year for New Directions for Women — a Costa Mesa group that provides rehab and recovery services to women — is scheduled for March 28 at the Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach. Last year, the event netted about $80,000. This year, an anonymous donor has pledged to match contributions dollar-for-dollar, said Becky Flood, the organization's chief executive officer.

Grease Lightning is coming to Sonic. Estancia High School students dressed as Sandy Olsen, Danny Zuko, Betty Rizzo and the rest of the gang from "Grease" will take over as celebrity car hops from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at 3095 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. Sonic will donate 20% of the night's proceeds back to the drama department when patrons present the event's flier. The students are promoting their upcoming production of the musical, which takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. March 8 through 10 at Estancia's Barbara Van Holt Theatre, 2323 Placentia Ave. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for general admission.

COSTA MESA — A benefit concert will be hosted Saturday at Detroit Bar to raise funds for a nonprofit sea mammal organization in Laguna Beach damaged by December storms. The music venue and Rasta Taco, a mobile food catering company, joined in partnership for the fundraiser to benefit the Pacific Marine Mammal Center's Flood Relief Fund, according to a press release. Heavy rainfall overwhelmed the drainage system of the center on Dec. 22, resulting in more than four feet of water flooding the interior of the veterinary hospital.

Corona Del Mar High School hit the ball out of the park Friday at its Neptune's Ball fundraiser. The World Series-themed dinner and dance at the Balboa Bay Club drew nearly 400 people and raised about $220,000, said Robin Hook, the event's co-chairwoman. The money was raised through a mixture of CdM families, local business and corporation sponsorships, Hook said. The event was sponsored by the CdM Foundation that helps the school purchase higher ticket items. The money raised will help fund counselors, technology, and a project to improve and refurbish the school gymnasium.

A Newport Beach family is offering local UCLA supporters a chance to learn more about late legendary basketball coach John Wooden this weekend at an intimate fundraiser with Wooden's daughter and some of his former athletes. Last year, Roger and Lynn Tomalas attended an event in Los Angeles County where Wooden's daughter, Nan, and two of his former athletes shared their memories of one of the most successful college basketball coaches in history. They decided to bring that personal touch to Newport on Sunday.

Last week’s fundraiser for local Marines at A Restaurant in Newport Beach was so successful that organizers have already planned another one for next year. In fact, they have decided to make it an annual event. When the restaurant closed late July 8, organizers collected about $6,000 for the 1st Battalion 1st Marines. Two local patrons — David Pyle and Joseph McGinty Nichol, better known as movie director McG — each agreed to match the bartenders’ tips for the night.

Mariners Elementary School Foundation will host its 11th annual fall fundraiser, A Night at Ciro’s, at 6 p.m. Saturday in Building 16 of the Orange County Fairgrounds. The theme celebrates the Golden Age of Hollywood, when Frank Sinatra was king and the Rat Pack hung out at the hippest night club in town, Ciro’s. Mariners Elementary hopes to raise money for technology upgrades, additional teaching staff, a dedicated science program, math and reading enrichment programs, music, facility improvements, and more.

Costa Mesa firefighters collected an estimated $1,000 in a fundraiser for their Widows and Orphans Fund Thursday night when they acted as waiters and busboys for a local restaurant, officials said. For about five hours, Costa Mesa firefighters served their community in a different way than usual — this time handing out burgers, fries and drinks at Ruby’s Diner on 17th Street — with 20% of the customers’ bills going to charity. The Widows and Orphans Fund is a safety net for the families of firefighters who have been lost in the line of duty, said Capt.

Lolita Harper These boys are used to singing for their suppers but Saturday they took to running in circles for the All-American Boys Chorus Jog-a-Thon fundraiser. Members and supporters of the All-American Boys Chorus gathered Saturday afternoon at Davis Elementary in Costa Mesa hoping to raise $80,000 for the nonprofit organization. More than 100 boys sweat it out in the mid-afternoon heat to raise money for their highly acclaimed choir. The Davis field was transformed into a party venue Saturday with various tents and booths, food and drinks and music -- loud, upbeat music.

Save Our Youth is ready to celebrate another year of helping students succeed with all the trappings of a good party: margaritas, delicious food and an inspiring story. SOY is hosting its fourth annual Fiesta on Thursday evening to celebrate helping students on Costa Mesa's Westside raise their grades, go to college and stay out of trouble. "It's a celebration of SOY," said Mary Cappellini, the event coordinator. SOY was created in 1993 in response to escalating gang problems on the Westside.

About 20 Harbor View Elementary School students spent Wednesday afternoon on the Goldenrod Footbridge, using class art lessons and their hands to paint masterpieces that will be auctioned later this month at a parent fundraiser. "It is freeing, far more than in a regular classroom," said Eve Nycz, the school's art teacher, who stopped by to watch the children paint. "I love that this takes kids out of the classroom. I love the sensory aspect of it. " Parent Mark Akhavain, who paints as a hobby, organized the project after working all year with fourth-graders in their Art Masters classes.

Members of the Newport Beach and Costa Mesa police departments will head to the desert this weekend to participate in the 120-mile Baker to Vegas Relay. The will be among teams from 270 departments participating in the annual rite, which raises money for a police nonprofit. Newport Beach and Costa Mesa each plan to send 20 participants, but they'll also have some of their retired and non-sworn colleagues along for the trip to do support duties, like driving and being alternates.

The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum is getting closer to reaching its ambitious fundraising goals, according to museum President Rita Stenlund. The museum also has profile-raising community events coming up, from a kick-off party for the Newport to Ensenada yacht race Sunday to weekly family events starting in June. Stenlund told the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday that the museum now has about $8 million in an investment fund. That's up from the $6.6 million listed in its 2011 tax return and $5.1 million the year before.

They called it the "Time of Your Life. " The UCI Mind Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders took the crowd back to the psychedelic 1960s to raise funds forAlzheimer'sresearch at the institute. And raise funds they did. Some 500 guests replicating the Twiggy mini skirt for the ladies and the Nehru jacket for the men converged upon Costa Mesa's Center Club for a fabulous party that was non-stop energy. Organizers decorated the Center Club in sectors that included a Motown Room, a British Invasion corner, a Beach Boys surf's up lounge, a TV Land living room suitable for the Cleaver family of "Leave it to Beaver" fame, a Sinatra swinging Supper Club and finally a "futurama" view of the "new age" fit for the Jetsons.

Get ready for a night of glitz and old Hollywood glamour Saturday while supporting two Costa Mesa schools. The Estancia & TeWinkle Schools Foundation is hosting its fifth annual gala, themed "Some Like it Hot," Saturday at the Mesa Verde Country Club to raise money for TeWinkle Middle and Estancia High schools. The event will feature a martini bar, hor d'oeuvres, casino tables, a buffet dinner and dancing. There will also be a silent and live action. Estancia alumni Joe Drake, former president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, and Jon Gray, the chief executive of Talon Automotive Group, will be honored as distinguished graduates.

Grease Lightning is coming to Sonic. Estancia High School students dressed as Sandy Olsen, Danny Zuko, Betty Rizzo and the rest of the gang from "Grease" will take over as celebrity car hops from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at 3095 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. Sonic will donate 20% of the night's proceeds back to the drama department when patrons present the event's flier. The students are promoting their upcoming production of the musical, which takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. March 8 through 10 at Estancia's Barbara Van Holt Theatre, 2323 Placentia Ave. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for general admission.

President Obama swept through Corona del Mar on Thursday morning, raking in at least hundreds of thousands of dollars from supporters while rattling the sleepy village. Obama protesters and fans crowded intersections along East Coast Highway, near the entrance to the tony Shore Cliffs neighborhood, the site of a private breakfast fundraiser. Police said the event went smoothly, thanks in part to their heavy presence controlling traffic and crowds. People, dogs and a horse named Sinatra started arriving about 6 a.m. at the intersections between Morning Canyon Road and Poppy Avenue.

Though President Obama's Thursday visit to a breakfast fundraiser in Corona del Mar will be closed to the public, there will be plenty of signs that the Democratic president is visiting a Republican stronghold. Conservative protesters plan to get their points across with demonstrations, though it was unknown Wednesday night whether the presidential motorcade would pass by them. "Our goal is to hopefully get enough coverage that other Americans in other communities across the nation will do the same thing when the president visits their community," said Laura Dietz, a Cameo Shores resident who is organizing a protest on Poppy Avenue and East Coast Highway.

Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer's campaign committee raised more than $35,000 in 2011, with about $11,000 coming in a single fundraiser in December, financial disclosure forms show. The disclosures, which were released last week, show Righeimer far ahead of anyone else seeking city office. Righeimer for City Council 2010 remains $42,000 in debt from loans Righeimer's company, LMC Management Group, used to fund his campaign two years ago, a time when he faced strong pushback from the police union.